Jin knows how direct Lily is. But still she's really hitting the painful spot. Jin coughed and cleared his throat and said: "Yeah.. She said it's trivial.."
"Well that's like her....If you're going to ask if I'm going to my nieces parents and child's festival, then sure. And besides I'm used to it, also it will be a good time to spend some time with my cute nieces."
Jin's previous hurtful expression turned into a gleam of sheer joy. Jin's and Lily's relationship are that of friend's only. They're close because Jin helped Lily in the past when she was kicked out of her family.
"Thanks..thank you.." Jin expressed his thankfulness to Lily. The kid's always lacked a mother figure, at the very least Lily was the one covering the hole in the boy's heart's.
"Ah..Geez..You don't have too, especially because of all the things you did for me as well. This is payment and besides I also like to spend my time with my niece's..."
Jin stayed silent. He feels the most grateful as Lily is the one acting as a mother to the children. Jin also feel pissed about the whole ordeal with Cecilia. 'I really have to change her..This can't go on forever..'
"Anyways I have to go. Can't get my girlfriend waiting... "
Jin snapped out of his immersive thoughts and replied: "Sure have fun." Jin gently placed his phone on the table. He walked to the sofa and gently sat while embracing the boy's, he opened his mouth with a smile: "Aunt. Lily is joining us at the festival.."
"Yehey!!.." The two boys smiled and cuddled in their father's embrace.
Jin hugged the two boy's and watched their favourite cartoon show. He stared at his twins. 'System is there really no other way?.'
[Piggy: My other colleagues with their host's said that this is the only way they increased the change and love meter to full bar.]
Jin nodded in understanding. He can't take it anymore, especially because of Cecilia's demeanor. Jin wants her to look at their kids even if it's only a brief moment, even though they live in the same roof, Cecilia would always maintain her cold aura, not even once did she ever held a conversation with the children.
The only option the system said, is to hurt her. But Jin is reluctant, he loved Cecilia and the twins. He's scared that this fight and drama would hurt the twins, or put a strain in their marriage and relationship.
[Piggy: Even I can't think of any other way. It's been 5 years but her love and change meter is still the same, as if it's a raging river, no one could dive deep into her, before getting smashed by the river rocks.]
'Yeah..You're right.' Jin always held the thought that he still has many years to change her, and her love for him and the kids would grow. But his patience is limited. He can't take the cold and toxic relationship anymore, especially because of how it's affecting the kids.
But the whole thing about creating a drama, he's also unsure. It can also affect the children's lives.
[Piggy: It's alright host. Take you're time.]
'Yeah..' Jin stared at the twins, he felt happy just being with them. This life that Jin is currently living, is a dream come true for him. A life that he always wanted presented itself.
"Here's the snacks young master's." Aunt. Lin came, she gently placed the tray of chips and cookies at the table.
"Thank you Aunt. Lin." Jin took a cookie and ate. The twins also busied themselves eating the chips and drinking juice.
...
"Master dinner's ready." Aunt. Lin walked in front of Jin and the twins, she smiled and held her bag.
"You can go home now Aunt. Lin, thank you."
Jin said, and Aunt. Lin nodded her head with a smile as she left the house.
"Let's eat!." Jin and the twins walked to the dining table. He sat each of the twins on their respective chairs, and sat at his. Jin put the meat and vegetables on their plates.
"Papa..Is mama not coming home today?." Lucas asked, he tugged Jin's shirt and rubbed his sleepy eyes.
"I'll text mama, but let's eat first." Jin replied, he ruffled Lucas's hair.
They ate their dinner with bliss. But Jin noticed that the twin's eyes are locked on to one chair. He could only smile bitterly.
"Since were done eating, both of you should wash your teeth and take a brisk steamy bathe alright?."
"Okay!." The twins responded with a smile as they walked to the bathroom.
Jin busied himself in cleaning the table and washing the dishes. He took out his phone and started to type.
{Jin: Where are you now?. Come home and eat.}
Jin waited for a few minutes but there was no reply. He dried his wet hands using the towel. Jin dialed, but still Cecilia didn't pick up.
"Papa is mama coming home?." Louie already finished his bathe and asked.
"Umm...Boy's let's quickly change into you're pajamas." Jin walked to the stairs, he carried the still wet twins in his arms. He changed their clothes to a pajama and a warm jacket.
Jin can't just leave the children alone inside the house, they're still five year olds. "We're going to pick mama up, from the company."
Jin took the car key , he carried the twins and put them inside the car. He buckled them on their seat carefully.
Jin stepped on the pedal and immediately drove. He stared at the twins through the mirror. They wore happy expressions on their cute faces.
Jin couldn't help but rose a smile as well. He continued to carefully drive, after a few minutes they've arrived. Jin walked out of the car with the twins.
They walked inside the company to the elevator. As soon as they stepped out of the elevator, Cecelia stood in front of them with a blank expression, she looked surprised and asked: "What are you doing here?. It's already 8:26 pm, it's past the kid's bedtime. "
Cecelia glanced at her husband with a glare. She redirected her gaze to the twins, currently fiddling their arms.
"You didn't text me back, I was worri-" Jin didn't noticed earlier because of the dim lights. He hurriedly touched his wife's swollen red cheek and asked: "What happened?."
Cecilia stayed silent, she rubbed her face to her husband's warm hands. "It's nothing serious really.." She replied, her blue sharp eyes stared at her husband's.
"What do you mean it's nothing?. Look at how red your cheek is." Jin pulled his wife in his embrace. He kissed her forehead and hugged her. "Who would do this to you wife?."
Cecelia stayed silent, she closed her eyes feeling the warmth of the hug.
They stayed in the same position for a few minutes. Till Cecelia pushed Jin. She stayed silent and glanced at the two boys. "Let's go home..."
Jin nodded, he held the two boys and walked inside the elevator, followed by Cecelia. Jin's eyes are firmly glued to her swollen cheeks.
Ding...
They walked inside the car, Jin drove back home. He couldn't help but ask once more: "Who hit you?. Judging from your swollen cheek, he or she have used force.."
"It's nothing really.." Cecelia glanced at her husband's, she rested her head at the window.
Jin clenched his fists, he gritted his teeth. He had some suspicions on who hit her, but Jin wants Cecelia to be the one telling him. He stayed silent and continued to drive.
....
As they arrived, the twins fell asleep. Jin gently placed them on their bed, he tucked them each and kissed their foreheads. "Good night Lucas and Louie..."
Jin closed the bedroom door, he walked to his bedroom. Jin opened the drawer and changed his clothes to a comfortable one. He glanced at his wife busying herself with applying lotion.
"Why won't you tell me who it is?.." Jin is still keen on finding who in the mind would hit his wife?.
Cecelia paused, she glanced at Jin still staying silent. "I know you Jin...And I know how violent you can be....Just forget that I've been bruised no forget that this ever happened.."
"Why is it someone you know?...Is it you're uncle?...." Jin sat at the side of the bed, he carefully analyzed Cecelia's expression. Jin hated Cecelia's family, especially her uncles and aunt's.
Cecelia stayed silent, she stood up and laid down on the bed. "Don't..do anything..please..."
"Sh*t , what is wrong with you?. You're in a much higher position than they are, and still you bow down to them.." Jin glanced at his wife, she stayed silent. "Can't you just leave them?..You have me and the kids..You don't need those sh*ts.."
"They're family....So stop cursing them..."
"Like hell they are.." Jin grunted, he walked out of the room with his face completely pissed.
Thud...
Cecelia took a quick glance, she shook her head. "I will always have this collar around my neck..." She quietly mumbled as she fell asleep.